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New Jersey Gay Marriage: Judge Says Same-Sex Marriages Can Start October 21

Gay Marriage Happening In New Jersey
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Senior Editor, Breaking News, HuffPost

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Same-sex couples in New Jersey may soon be able to marry.

Judge Mary Jacobson of the Mercer County Superior Court ruled Friday that gay couples can marry in the Garden State starting October 21.

Jacobson said she made her decision in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on United States v. Windsor, but the ruling is likely to be appealed.

"This unequal treatment requires that New Jersey extend civil marriage to same-sex couples to satisfy equal protection guarantees of the New Jersy Constitution as interpreted by the New Jersey Supreme Court in Lewis," wrote the judge. "Same-sex couples must be allowed to marry in order to obtain equal protection of the law under the New Jersey Constitution."

This post has been updated.

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Before You Go

Gay Marriage In The United States
Connecticut(01 of14)
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Since November 12, 2008 (credit:AP)
Delaware(02 of14)
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Gay marriage law enacted, weddings to begin July 1. (credit:Getty Images)
Iowa(03 of14)
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Since April 3, 2009 (credit:Getty)
Maine(04 of14)
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In 2012, Maine voted in favor of a ballot amendment to legalize gay marriage. (credit:Alamy)
Maryland(05 of14)
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The gay marriage bill was signed into law by Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) on March 1, 2012. Opponents later gathered enough signatures to force the issue back onto the ballot in November 2012, but voters rejected the effort against gay marriage. (credit:AP)
Massachusetts(06 of14)
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Since May 17, 2004 (credit:AP)
Minnesota(07 of14)
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Same-sex marriage bill signed into law in May. Gay marriages will begin in August. (credit:Getty Images)
New Hampshire(08 of14)
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Since January 1, 2010 (credit:Flickr: jimbowen0306)
New York(09 of14)
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Since July 24, 2011 (credit:Flickr: alh1)
Rhode Island(10 of14)
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Bill passed in May. Law takes effect on August 1, 2013. (credit:Getty Images)
Vermont(11 of14)
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Since September 1, 2009 (credit:Flickr: Tony Fischer Photography)
Washington(12 of14)
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On February 13, 2012, Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) signed a law allowing same-sex marriage ceremonies to begin on June 7, 2012. The process was delayed by gay marriage opponents who gathered enough signatures to put the issue up to a state vote in November 2012. They voted to approve it on Election Day. (credit:AP)
Washington D.C.(13 of14)
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Since March 9, 2010 (credit:Flickr: Vox Efx)
California(14 of14)
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The state initially began conducting gay marriages on June 16, 2008. On November 5, 2008, however, California voters passed Proposition 8, which amended the state's constitution to declare marriage as only between a man and a woman. In 2013, the Supreme Court ruled against that law, and the state shortly thereafter began sanctioning same-sex nuptials. (credit:AP)
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